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GameStop pays $700M for Micromania

World's largest gaming retailer gets 332 new storefronts with acquisition of French gaming chain.

Although GameStop has more than 5,500 stores dotting the landscape of North America, Europe, and Australia, the specialty gaming retailer has yet to open a single store in France. However, GameStop's presence in the country is set to skyrocket, given that the company announced today an agreement to acquire French retailer Micromania and its 332 stores.

The massive expansion will cost GameStop roughly $700 million, and, subject to approval by the European Commission, it is expected to be finalized in November. For perspective, that's nearly half the $1.44 billion that GameStop paid to acquire chief US rival EB Games in 2005. Since then, though, the US dollar has dropped dramatically against the Euro, which partially explains Micromania's steep price.

Since the EB acquisition, GameStop has been picking up new chains at a good pace. Last year the retailer picked up Rhino Video Games from Blockbuster, and already this year it snatched up New Zealand chain The Gamesman and 49 Norwegian Free Record Shop locations.

96 Comments

  • eezzy_rider

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 6:10 pm GMT

    Neat failstop is expanding.

  • BewilderedRonin

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 7:36 am GMT

    @ condemned100:
    What? Um, I don't know what you ingested, but you might want to think about calling Poison Control.

  • fastman309

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 4:48 am GMT

    Everyone seems to complain about the policy with their trade ins. yes gamestop gives you 20% of what the retail price is, and yes when it comes to the used games they sell it is all profit. But no one is forcing you to trade in anything, if you don't like it, don't trade in.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 9:25 pm GMT

    Retail is for suckers

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 8:07 pm GMT

    This is good news. I love my gamestop.

  • Downloadpilot

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 6:08 pm GMT

    Impressive...

  • condemned100

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 6:07 pm GMT

    I Have Tricks and tools In my Disposle Inside My Brain To get Hired In K-Mart. Iam Happy to Share My Theories About Space. Presumably My Glial Cells And Neurons Help me Think Faster that I Must Get On A Book First. I can't Explain It all Of A Sudden Words I never even Heard of Popped In my Head Like Presumably, Therefore, And Furthermore. When I'm not even In High School anymore I Graduated from High School I'm 20.

  • Vote_For_McCain

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 6:03 pm GMT

    If you want the best in store credit go to Blockbuster Video.

  • mp5xm8

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 6:02 pm GMT

    I like buying used games from gamestop for trade-ins are a whole different story, i prefer goozex.com but thats just me.

  • Vote_For_McCain

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:59 pm GMT

    Get now more people can get raped on buybacks and employee policys.

  • Rob_101

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:43 pm GMT

    Now I'm going to open up a video game store so GameStop can buy it, then I'll be rich

  • kos1085

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:33 pm GMT

    The key to getting a lot of money from gamestop from trades is watch for special deals such at extra 10% for three games. With my edge card + 20% for five games + 10% for putting toward a reserve I have gotten 40% extra credit .

  • Tandem_Toad

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:21 pm GMT

    The thing I don't like about Gamestop is their insistent reserve every purchase policy. Oftentimes, they will only stock enough to cover the reservations and wait until a later shipment to stock the shelf. I usually reserve the games I want. However, sometimes I decide at the last minute to purchase a game. So, I end up having to purchase the game at another retail competitor. This is stupid! They lost my business. Oh, and what's up with them not stocking PC games?!

  • Gamesterpheonix

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:19 pm GMT

    Omfg no.

  • condemned100

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 5:09 pm GMT

    I Just got Back from My Second Interview At K-Mart. This time with the Manager Of K-Mart. He told me He doesn't Mind Me Being On Board but that I have to call Tomorrow To Talk to A Old Lady Which I Already Did talk to Her to see If I got the Job. I asked the Manager If I got the Job On the Phone After I came Home from His Interview And He just said I Have to Call Tomorrow And at the end Of the Conversation he just Uh huh After I told him Thank You. Disrepectful I tell you. Why Do I get the Feeling that These people Are Wasting My Time.? And are Just Playing It off As Naw we don't Need this Guy to Be working In Our Company K-Mart. But we Also Don't want to Be Mean To This Guy Meaning Me.

  • Sim_Gamer

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:51 pm GMT

    I only think sometimes that Gamestop is very greedy for starters they are always desperate on selling games even if the store if overcrowded, also just look at the trade in values.

  • teirdome

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:46 pm GMT

    Smart move by GameStop. Buy foreign assets while the dollar's still worth something.

  • Oloryn

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:44 pm GMT

    Having worked for several retail stores, I can say that serving time as a store manager for Gamestop was one of the most miserable times in my life, as they are about as corporate as you get, caring solely about numbers, and though I understand businesses are meant to make money, I've seen this company completely fire and clean out whole crews of stores on a whim because the corporate Bobs thought it'd make em a couple more bucks or simply for a fresh start. It saddens me to see it get even larger, but what can ya do right? I suppose not shop there, which I've since stopped. There are some good uncorrupt employees, but overall, its a horrible corporate company ran by oblivious bigwigs and a staff that are too strung up on selling magazines and pre-rders to offer simple customer service. I much preferred EB Games...may they rest in peace.

  • rbop

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:39 pm GMT

    I truly love all of the anti-capitalism "free-thinkers" that frequent Gampespot. Example A/ I hate EA, Ex B/ I hate BestBuy, Ex C/ I hate GameStop, Ex D/ I hate M$... where do you people get anything I wonder? You must all be wonderfully talented engineers b/c that's what it would take to make your own hardware and games.

  • McJugga

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:24 pm GMT

    I thought it said gamespot at first. I was very confused.

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:21 pm GMT

    Hey Gamestop wanna play Monopoly? You can be the shoe and Dave here will be the banker!

  • byrdcjb100 posted Oct 1, 2008 4:13 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    byrdcjb100

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:13 pm GMT (hide)

    I love gamestop

  • byrdcjb100

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:13 pm GMT

    I love gamestop

  • M00gee

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:08 pm GMT

    It's not the fact that they don't give you much money for your games that people should be angry about. It's about you paying 5 dollars less for a used game and having none of that money go to the developer of that awesome game. It's GameStop profit.

  • hyrueprince11

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 4:06 pm GMT

    unfortunately we still don't have gamstop in mexico

  • SethSOMT

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:35 pm GMT

    They don't give you the most for used game, but at least they give you money!

  • uberjannie

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:31 pm GMT

    cant they just build new shops for that kind of money instead of buying an old chain of stores?
    What a waste of 700 million USD.

  • GodOfSyn

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:12 pm GMT

    Not sure if it's a Wisconsin or midwest thing, but Gamecrazy rocks, they are inside Hollywood Videos (blockbusters competitor) they are great for game shopping.

  • condemned100

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:11 pm GMT

    Gamestop gives you very little Money In return for Trading In most of your Games or PS2 Games. Then Gamestop Sells All your Games to Customers For more Money Gamestop Raises the Prices of the Games you Trade In. Gamestop Completetely Rips You Off. Enough Said.

  • jediknight00

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:02 pm GMT

    actually nibbles gamestop is it's own company cause i work for it and gamestop owns barnes and noble not starbucks.....yet hahahhaa

  • EvilResident

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:00 pm GMT

    It's simple....stop shopping at GameStop. There's a great series of episodes on YouTube about GS. They make their money off of used games and screwing people on trade-ins. And I'm as guilty as anyone.

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:57 pm GMT

    upon further review, I am convinced 90% of you have no f**kin idea what you are talking about.

  • Frost259

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:51 pm GMT

    Wow gamestop sucks cause they don't give you a lot of money on your trades. Your lucky they even will buy some of the crap some of you people try and sell them. I've seen people come into gamestop with halo ones that look like they have been put through a blender, and gamestop will still give them a coulpe of bucks for a game they will have to repair, and then prolly never sell cause they allready have 10 million used copies of a game that doesn't sell anymore. But hey you know what it's not your fault it's gamestops boy they sure do suck for trying to help you out a little.

  • Nibbles37

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:50 pm GMT

    DoctorBedlam

    The company that owns Gamestop actually already owns Starbucks as well, and a few other stores, forgot specifically which ones.

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:50 pm GMT

    ohs nos!!! the big bad monopoly monster is gonna eat all the moneys out of my pockets!!! wes cant let thems get away with making good business decisions!!! jeez people, if you dont like Gamestop dont shop there. The world economy is in the s**ter and you guys are b***hing about a company strengthing itself...

  • Henninger

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:43 pm GMT

    I never really liked Gamestop. I loved Electronic Botique (EB Games) b4 it was Gamestop. Some of their prices r fair but others r not worth it & 10% off really isnt worth it but its better than nothing. Also, if u r a member of their edge program, u get emailed coupons for 20-25% off & u can combine that with your edge card. So they can come thru 4 u every once in a while.

  • Selfdestruct9

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:32 pm GMT

    Biggest monopolies = Comcast and Gamespot. Kill these companies. PLEASE.

  • silverninga0

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:16 pm GMT

    No offense but Gamestop and EBGames both suck because everything is expensive, you'd rather go to some asian game store and buy it without tax or even at a cheaper price. And if not that, you always got the internet. Amazon.com ring a bell to anyone who likes Gamestop or EBGames? :]

  • Foster113

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:12 pm GMT

    Well you know what that means. More French trash talking on Halo 3, Kiss mon derrière!

  • siranikita posted Oct 1, 2008 2:12 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    siranikita

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:12 pm GMT (hide)

    I actually really like Gamestop. They have all the games i want, special offers, and informed employees. They actually know about what is going on in the gaming world. So that's nice....i don't really mind at all. More power to 'em.

  • hawaiiinsomniac

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:57 pm GMT

    wow... gamestop to conquer the world...

  • tiggerboy

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:42 pm GMT

    And the monopoly begins.....

  • MKraft

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:39 pm GMT

    bring back Funco Land

  • teamfear

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:39 pm GMT

    Game Stop Sucks. It is so overrated. There are never any good deals or sales. Their used games are way too expensive. 10% off used games doesn't do it for me. Get a rewards zone card and get your games at Best Buy.

  • Profrink86

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:36 pm GMT

    The only big problems I have with Game Stop are their trade-in values can sometimes be low and working for them can be very stress full when you start to progress up the ranks

  • artson1966

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:35 pm GMT

    Bad enough they have destroyed the american market now their after the friends over the pond.. hopemy mates buy chasity belts to cover thier rears for teh upcoming banging they will get.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 1:11 pm GMT

    Gamestop is slowly going to be the only place to buy games at...its kinda depressing, I want to see game sellers in competition!

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